Groendyk Baptismal Record of New Utrecht

Thanks to Barbara Poole of Life From The Roots blog, I now have good information that places my GROENDYK / GROENENDYKE family firmly in the New Utrecht area and clears up the name of James GROENDYKE's spouse.  


A Google book search had indicated that the family was mentioned in The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record in Volume 114, 1983.  Not having access to this publication, I put out an A.P.B. on Twitter, and Barbara was quick to respond.  She not only graciously copied the page that I needed, but also others that included several Dutch families that I am sure I am distantly connected with.  Now, I just get to sort it all out!

The record shows that Peter GROENDYK, son of James GROENDYK and Johanna ANTONIDES was baptized on May 25, 1800 at the Reformed Church of New Utrecht, Long Island.  Witnesses were Peter ANTONIDES and wife Ida RYDER.

My database had Peter born May 2, 1800 in New Jersey, with the source for this information being a correspondent.  There has always been a question in my mind whether James' wife was an ANTONIDES or not, and this record seems to clear this up.  I had believed that she is the daughter of Peter and Catherine (VANDERVEER) ANTONIDES.  However, Teunis Bergen in his genealogy on the ANTONIDES family states that Peter was deceased in 1796.  So, perhaps the witness is Johanna's brother, Peter?

Tombstone Tuesday: Sarah May (PEEPLES) PEFLEY (1869-1932)

Eileen's maternal great-greatmother, Sarah May (PEEPLES) PEFLEY, is buried in the Washington-Lawson Cemetery, Union Township, Marshall County, Indiana.


Sarah was the daughter of George and Katherine (McMILLEN) PEEPLES.  According to her obituary in the Culver Citizen, she was born on a farm near Maxinkuckee on May 3, 1870, although her tombstone clearly says 1869. Sarah married Albert Duffey PEFLEY, son of Thomas Jefferson and Ruth (DUFFEY) PEFLEY, on October 9, 1898 in Culver, Marshall County, Indiana.  They had 4 children and resided in Lagro Township, Wabash County, Indiana.  Sarah and Albert divorced circa 1924.  Sarah died April 4, 1932 in Argos, Marshall County, Indiana.


Source: Washington-Lawson Cemetery (Marshall County, Indiana), Sarah May Pefley marker, photographed by Travis LeMaster, 4 September 2010.

Linking Feature at Find A Grave

I have several family memorials at the FindAGrave.com website that I've created over the years.  What started out as a site for the gravesites of the rich and famous has become a genealogical tool for those who would like to have photographs of far-away tombstones of their ancestors.


I have used the "Request A Photo" feature frequently with great success in obtaining photographs, and when possible, I try to help out others looking for their ancestor's tombstones in my area.  It's a great way to give back a little bit to the genealogical community.


One feature that I'm starting to utilize at FindAGrave is the linking feature where you can add family links.  By adding these family links, you can tie together whole families at FindAGrave.  Often times, one spouse will die and the survivor may move on to another area and be buried in a totally different cemetery.  Not to mention how far-flung some families can be.  By linking children with their parents, someone can quickly link to all available tombstone photographs of a particular family.


If you haven't yet used this feature, I would highly recommend it.